Freescale announced the Qorivva MPC5777M multicore microntroller based on the Power architecture is suitable for use in the powertrain where it can be used to calculate parameters for diesel and gaseoline direct injection systems as well for hybrid electric and plug-in electric vehicles.

The MPC5777M provides three times the performance of the MPC5674F microcontroller, which Freescale claimed was a previous performance leader.

For electronic braking system (EBS) applications Freescale has partnered with Continental AG, a leading tier-one automotive supplier. The two companies have defined a quad-core 32-bit microcontroller based on the Power architecture.

The joint program is called Quad-core microcontroller automotive safety and reliability or Quasar and it is intended to provide the processing for Continental's next-generation EBS products. The first device in the family integrates four e200z4 cores, with two pairs of cores in redundant lock-step.

The device contains 4.75-Mbyte of flash memory and 256-kbyte of SRAM as well as Continental "fail-safe" technology, which Freescale said meets the requirements of ISO26262 ASIL D.

Under the Xtrinsic brand Freescale introduced a range of pressure sensors for automotive engine control and a 77-GHz radar transmitter for active safety systems. The Xtrinsic PRDTX11101 radar transmitter is built on 180-nm silicon-germanium BiCMOS process technology and improves logic and power amplifier integration. The integration of a voltage controlled oscillator reduces system complexity and enables a smaller customer board size. As a result the transmitter also includes reduced phase noise coupled and lower power consumption.

The Xtrinsic MXHZ9000 family of absolute temperature compensated, piezoresistive ressre sensors come with package porting and mounting options. They use a 5-V supply and cover a range from 15 to 400-kPa. The pressure sensors are sampling with full production scheduled for 1Q13 with a price of about $3.50 in 10,000-piece quantities.

Freescale and Continental AG - interesting. I look forward to seeing what difference the quad-core 32-bit microcontroller will make overall. Technology is advancing so quickly - it's good to see autopart companies like Freescale and Continental and indeed Continental' largest single shareholder The Schaeffler Group staying ahead of the game in difficult times. I just hope that they continue to keep a watchful eye on costing as people's pockets get smaller !!